Snap hook for wrist watch bands



Jan. l5, 1952 J. L. HAJOS ETAL SNAP HOOK. FOR WRIST WATCH BANDS Filed Oct. 23, 1948 rhs INVENTORS JOSE/D15 L. HAr/S GEORGE VOLLET BY H717 ORA/EY Patented Jan. 15, 19.52

UNITE-D STATES PATENT OFFICE Joseph ;L. Bajos, ANew York, and Georgevollet, Freeport, YN. Y., y assignors to Jacques Kreisler Manufacturing Corporation, VNorth Bergen,

N. J., ya `corporation Application v"()cIiobcr 23, 1948, `Serial No. 56,196

claims.

Our present invention relates to watch bands or bracelets and more particularly to end at.

tachments for connecting the band to the watch.

The primary object of the present invention is the provision of an improved end attachment for a watch band for releasably connecting the latter to the case o f a wrist watch. More particularly, in connection with Vthis object of the invention lprovision is vmade `for facilitating the attachment ofthe band to the watch case by a device of improved construction, especially in respect to the characteristics of safety securement, simplicity of, construction, and ease of manipulation vfor attaching the band to and removing the same yfrom the uwatch case.

Another object of the invention is the provision of an end attachment provided with an improved locking element. The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be fully understood from the following description considered in connection with the accompanying drawings which, however, are to be taken as illustrative of the invention but not in limitation thereof.

In the drawings: y

Fig. 1 is a front view, on an enlarged scale, of a Watch and the adjacent ends of a watch band connected thereto by the end attachments of the present invention; *Y

Fig. 2 is a view, on a larger scale than Fig 1, of the back of the watch case and one adjacent en d of the watch band; l

Fig. 3 is a sectional view, on alarger scale, on the line 3--3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a perspective view, on an enlarged scale, of parts of the end attachment showing said parts separated from each other and `disconnected from the end of the watch band.

Referring now to the drawings in'detail, Fig "l shows a ladies wrist watch W which may be of any suitable form or style, the case IC of said watch being provided with the `usual loops L which are fixed thereto for attachment of -the adjacent ends of the watch band. 4In fFig 1 only parts of the watch band areshown, and it will be understood that said band may be of any suitable style and construction and can'be either of the expansion or non-expansion type. For the purpose of disclosing the present invention, the band is illustrated as provided with the end members or parts I0 which are provided Y with the end attachments ofthe present invention for connecting the watch band-or bracelet to the watch. -Asl both end attachments are-of the same construction, description of one of them will. be sufficient.l

End member I0 is preferably yformed of sheet metal in any suitable ornamental shape or design and l carries a U-shaped end connecting member I2 which is mounted so as to .bev pivotally movable or swingable about the longitudinal vaxis of one of its legs I4, The other lejg it `of said U-shaped connecting member is releasably engageable with a resilient part I8 (Figs. 2 and 3) Afor releasably securing the end connecting member I2 in its watch-case retaining position, the latter being well illustrated fin Fig. l2. In the last mentioned position of member I2, the bottom or bend 20 of said member is positioned through the adjacent loop L of the watch case, when the band vis connected thereto. Preferably, in accordance with `the present invention a releasable locking member .22 is provided, as a safety device, for releasably holding end connectingmember -I2 in its watchecase retaining position so as to releasably prevent movement of said connecting .member to its retract-f ed position in the event that leg I8 accidentally becomes disengaged from `resilient part I8. When it is desired to disconnect the band from the watch case or when connecting the band to the Watch case, lock 22 is moved to a releasing position, shown in dotted lines in Fig. 3, for releasing leg I6 oi end-connecting member I2, whereby to permit the latter to be swung about the-longitudinal axis of its leg I4 to a retracted position indicated vin dot-and-dash lines in Fig. 3 so that said connecting member may be projected through loop L or withdrawn from said loop depending upon whether the band fis to be attached to or removed from the watch case.

The end attachment which las above described includes the connecting member I-2 and the locking member 22 is preferably, in accordance with thepresent invention, 'a unitary device indicated generally at `26 in Figs. y2 and-3. Saiddevice 26 includes a mountingcmember 28 which, it will be observed, is provided with the abovementioned resilient -part -I8 at one end thereof integral therewith. Said mounting or end member 28 is lformed of sheet metalvand has a bottom or plate part 30 provided with said end portion i8 and with an integral `end portion-32 in Ywhich the legi/5.r of-member I2 ispivotally mounted. It Vwill be noted that leg I4 is of reduced diameter in comparison with the bent part 20 -`providing a shoulder 34 between the'latter and said leg. The

outer end 36 of leg i4 is provided with an integral enlargement 36. It will be understood that when portion 32 ofmember28 isbent around leg I4, in `assembling member I2 .with member 28,

shoulders 34 and 36 are adjacent to the opposite ends respectively of the .bent-over portion 32 for holding member I2 in position with respect to member 28 While permitting pivotal movement of member I2 on said member 28. The other leg I6 of member I2 is similarly of reduced diameter in comparison with part 20 providing shoulders 38 and 40 which lie adjacent to the opposite ends of end portion I8 of member 28 when connecting member I2 is in its Watch-case retaining position. The plate-like part 30 of member 28 is provided with integral upstanding laterally spaced parts 42 and 44 which terminate short of end portion I8. Said upstanding parts 42 and 44 are provided with bearing openings 46 for the integral pin projections 50 formed on locking member 22, furnishing a pivotal mounting for said locking member on end or mounting member 28. Thus it Will be observed that locking member 22 is mounted on member 28 for pivotal movement about an axis extending between parts 42 and 44 parallel to the pivotal axis of leg I4 of member I2. It will be noted that the pivot of locking member 22 is nearer one end of the latter than it is to the opposite end thereof, providing an end portion 52 which partially overlies leg I6 of the end connecting member I2 when said locking member 22 is in its projected or locking position. In said last mentioned position of the locking member the opposite end portion 54 of the latter overlies the bent portion or eye 32 of member 28 and engages the latter to prevent the pivotal movement of said locking member in a counterclockwise direction viewing Fig. 3. When the locking member 22 is in its locking position, leg I6 cannot be moved clear of end portion 52 of the locking member because the end portion 54 engages the bent portion 32, but on the other hand when the locking member is moved in a clockwise direction, viewing Fig. 3, end portion 52 of the latter clears leg I 6 of member I2 so that the latter may be disengaged from member 28. In this connection it will be understood that member 22 is so dimensioned that the arcuate path of movement of end portion 52 from the full line to the dotted line position thereof will clear leg I6. Preferably as here shown small projections S are provided on the upstanding or projecting parts 42 and 44 for engagement over locking member 22 for releasably holding said locking member in its locking position.

The unitary device 26 made up of the parts I2, 22 and 28, as above described, may be secured to the end member or part I8 of the watch band in any suitable way, Preferably, as here shown, said device 26 is mounted in a recess 68 provided in member II) and is secured in position in said recess by a rivet 62 which passes through an opening 64 in plate 30 of member 28 and through an opening 66 in member I8. The outer end of said rivet is preferably flush with the outer or top surface of member I0 and is not visible after said member I0 is finished and polished.

While we have shown and described the presently preferred embodiment of our invention it will be understood that various changes in the details of construction and in the form and arrangement of parts may be made without departing from the underlying idea or principles of our invention within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. An end attachment for a watch band for connecting the latter to the loop of a watch-case, comprising an end member having a plate and laterally spaced parts projecting therefrom, a U-shaped connecting member having one leg thereof mounted on said plate for pivotal movement about the axis of said leg, said leg being disposed transversely of said laterally spaced parts, the bend of said U-shaped member being spaced outwardly of one of said projecting parts and the other leg of said member being movable through the loop of the watch-case to a position over said .plate transversely of said projecting parts, a locking member for releasably holding said other'leg in said position, said locking member being mounted on said spaced parts for pivotal movement about an axis extending transversely of said parts to a locking position in which an end portion of the locking member partially overlies said other leg of said U-shaped connecting member, said end portion of the locking member terminating in a free end which is dimensioned to clear said other leg of the U-shaped member, for releasing said other leg, and said end portion of the locking member is moved toward said other leg, and means for preventing movement of said end portion of the locking member beyond said locking position thereof in a direction away from said other leg, said means being interengageable elements on said locking member and said plate.

2. An end attachment for a watch band for connecting the latter to the loop of a watch-case, comprising an end member having a -plate and laterally spaced parts projecting therefrom, a U-shaped connecting member having one leg thereof mounted on said plate for pivotal movement about the axis of said leg, said leg being disposed transversely of said laterally spaced parts, the bend of said U-shaped member being spaced outwardly of one of said projecting parts and the other leg of said member being movable through the loop of the Watch-case to a position over said plate transversely of said projecting end portion of the locking member is moved to-l ward said other leg, and interengageable ele-l ments on said locking member and said spaced plate parts to prevent movement of said end portion of the locking member in the opposite direction beyond said locking position.

3. An end attachment for a watch band for connecting the latter to the loop of a watch case,

comprising an end member having a plate andl laterally spaced parts projecting therefrom, a

U-shaped connecting member having one leg thereof mounted on said plate for pivotal move-- ment about the axis 0I" said leg, said leg beingf disposed transversely of said laterally spaced parts, the bend of said U-shaped member being spaced outwardly of said projecting parts and the other leg of said member being movable through the loop of the watch-case to a position over said plate transversely of said projecting parts, a locking member for releasably holding* 76 said other leg in said position, saidlocking mem-v4 ber being mounted on said spaced parts for pivotal movementl about an axis extending transversely of said parts to a locking position in which an end portion of the locking member partially overlies said other leg of said U-shaped connecting member, said projecting parts of said end member being disposed in the space between the legs of said U-shaped member when said other leg of the latter is in said retaining position thereof, and said end portion of the locking member terminating in a free end which is dimensioned to clear said other leg of the U-shaped member, for releasing said other leg, when said end portion of the locking member is moved to ward said other leg, and means for preventing movement of said end portion of the locking member beyond said locking position thereof in a direction away from said other leg, said means being interengageable elements on said locking member and said plate.

4. An end attachment for a Watch band for connecting the latter to a band-attaching loop of a watch-case, comprising an end member, a U-shaped connecting member having one leg thereof mounted on said end member for pivotal movement about the axis of said leg, the other leg being engageable through the loop of the watch-case and movable about said axis to watchcase retaining position, and a resilient part on said end member releasably engaging said other leg of said U-shaped member in said watch-case retaining position for releasably securing said other leg to said end member, and a locking member mounted on said end member for movement to and from a position in which it partially overlies said other leg of said U-shaped member to prevent inadvertent release of the latter from said resilient part of said end member, said locking member being dimensioned to clear said other leg during said movement thereof.

5. An end attachment for a watch band for connecting the latter to the loop of a Watch-case, comprising an end member having a'part Iprovided with bent-over portions at its opposite ends, and a U-shaped connecting member having one leg thereof pivotally attached to said part by one of said bent-over portions for pivotal movement about the axis of said leg toward and away from said part, to operative and retracted positions, respectively, thev other of said bent-over portions being resiliently engageable at its outer surface with the other leg of said U -shaped member for releasably holding the latter in said operative position thereof, and a locking member mounted on said end member for movement to and from a position in which it ypartially overlies said other leg of said U-shaped member to prevent inadvertent release of the latter from said operative position thereof, said locking member being dimensioned to clear said other leg during said movement thereof.

JOSEPH L. HAJOS. GEORGE VOLLET.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,183,710 Zongaro May 16, 1916 1,465,804 Bubb Aug. 21, 1923 1,471,117 Foss Oct. 16, 1923 1,914,189 Yingling June 13, 1933 2,205,215 Levesque June 18, 1940 2,266,951 Bender Dec. 23, 1941 

